Mandalay is my favourite city in Myanmar. People always say to skip Mandalay and head straight to Yangon, Inle, or Bagan, but there’s something so special about this city that’s often overlooked. Here’s my guide to 2 days in Mandalay, including my favourite Mandalay attractions.
Here’s a recap of what we did!
We arrived in Mandalay at around 7:40 am after “sleeping” on the night train, then walked to our guest house.

Accommodation
We stayed at the Nylon Hotel, which I highly recommend. The staff is incredibly helpful and can help you book taxis, tickets, and transportation to your next destination. The rooms were clean and much nicer than I had anticipated. There were also Western toilets and a clean (warm) shower! Mind you, I’m traveling with my mother this round, so we aren’t on a strict backpacker budget. This hotel is about SGD $30 per night – expensive for our liking, but still so affordable!
The City
Mandalay is a huge grid layout city. It’s relatively easy to navigate (we used the app Maps.Me for wifi-less directions). This is an app that I highly recommend, and it was proven to be incredibly useful in Myanmar.
We spent the first day wandering around Mandalay. We bought our boat tickets to Bagan and strolled around the Royal Palace’s moat. I have to admit, initially, I wasn’t too impressed. But the city itself isn’t what I fell in love with in Mandalay. It’s what’s just outside of Mandalay that’s breathtaking.
Mandalay Attractions
U-Bein Bridge

U-Bein Bridge is a touristy attraction, but it’s totally worth the hype. It’s the longest teak footbridge in the world, coming in at 1.2 kilometres (uh wow!)
It’s well known for the pretty sunset view. With sunsets, of course, you can expect some crowds, but it truly is a stunning place to watch the sun disappear behind the water.

You can rent boats to take you into the water to watch the sunset, but personally, I thought going down the stairs to the water bank was great, as you could photograph the boats in the water as well as the sunset and bridge.

Cross U-Bein bridge and you’ll find yourself in a little village, which is home to some beautiful temples/pagodas.
I would leave Mandalay by 15:30 so you have some time to walk across the bridge and explore, then see the sunset.
The Royal Palace
The next day, we walked to the Royal Palace. There is a foreigners’ entrance that is much further than the local one, so be mindful to go to the right entrance! We walked to the moat, then took a rickshaw to the foreigners’ gate.
The Royal Palace requires a ticket, which you can buy at the foreigners’ gate. The ticket will also get you into other Mandalay attractions (more on that later).

Definitely spend some time wandering around the grounds, and if you’re able to, climb up the tower. There’s a great view of the palace from the top. This was beautiful and definitely worth a visit.

Shwenandaw Kyaung
From the Palace, our next stop was Shwenandaw Kyaung, a teak temple. It was initially in the Royal Palace, but moved piece by piece outside, as the King didn’t like the spirits inside the temple. This is one stunning temple. I loved the teak and it felt so unique from everything else I’d seen. The carvings were intricate and I fell in love with it.


You can use your Royal Palace ticket to enter this, as well as the white temple right next to it.
The White Temple: Atumashi Kyaung Taik Shwe Kyaung

The white temple is big and vast; totally recommend heading into it.

We walked through some local streets to our next destination, avoiding the main roads, to Kuthodaw Paya.
Kuthodaw Paya: The World’s Biggest Book
Kuthodaw Paya is the temple that houses the worlds biggest book. We wandered around its grounds. This temple is spectacular. I sound like a broken record saying this about literally every temple in Mandalay, but they are all special, different from each other, and incredible.

Mandalay Hill: The Best Sunset View in Mandalay
If you’re in Mandalay, you must go up to Mandalay Hill. We took the Southern Route, which takes you from Pagoda to Pagoda up the hill, so you’re never really bored on the walk up. This is 1729 steps, all barefoot. Again, you don’t even notice how high you’re walking because there’s always a new pagoda to surprise you.

The steps are totally worth it though, as the temple at the top of the hill is absolutely stunning. We went during sunset, a super touristy time. If you arrive a little earlier, like we did, you’ll have the temple mainly to yourselves. This doesn’t last though – it’s a popular sunset spot, and for good reason! This was one of the highlights of our trip to sure.

Where to Eat in Mandalay
I have never had a problem finding food in Southeast Asia. For those of you who know me, you know my love for food! However, in Myanmar, I found it a bit difficult to come across food.
If you’re looking for food, Mandalay’s 27th street is where to go. There are plenty of restaurants along this road, most of which looked amazing. If you stay at Nylon Hotel, there is a restaurant called Mann which is very close by. Although at busy times, you can wait up to an hour for food, the restaurant is cheap, yummy, and a really wonderful mix of locals and tourists.
If you’re looking for a place to splurge at, check out the Green Elephant! It’s a touristy restaurant with great wifi and yummy food ๐
Mandalay turned out to be one of my favourite places in Myanmar- after getting out of the city and seeing the beauties this place has to offer! Please please PLEASE do not listen to those who tell you to skip Mandalay and head straight for Bagan and Inle. While those places are also beautiful, Mandalay stole my heart and is the place I miss in Myanmar most.
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How did you travel around Mandalay? How far are the Mandalay Hill and the bridge from the city centre? I was thinking of renting a bicycle to go around the city but have no clue on distance of destinations?
I actually ended up walking around the city! To get to the palace, I took a rickshaw, and to get to UBein (too far for a bike), a taxi. Cycling around would work for some of the sights!
Thanks for your response. How about Mandalay Hill? Is it possible to go there on foot? Yeah, the UBein is a bit off city centre as I have looked it up on the Internet.
I recommend taking a rickshaw to the palace, then going to the “worlds biggest book,” then to mandalay hill. The latter two sights are totally walkable distance from the palace, which is a little out of the way. Mandalay hill is SPECTACULAR.
thank you for your recommendation. I will keep on searching how reachable they are by walking. Did you visit any local market there?
I didn’t have enough time to but I’m sure you’ll stumble upon one!
Great photos! I’ve subscribed to your Facebook page and will be following there also ๐
Thank you so much! Welcome to the fam!
Brilliant photography!! Hope to see more! Followed you ๐
Thank you so much! You’ll definitely be seeing more <3
Marvellous pictures of a spectacular place. I always think of Kipling’s On the Road to Mandalay.
I actually have never read that, but I definitely should! Mandalay is incredible gorgeous!
I love the pictures and all the details that you gave us.. ?
Thank you so much! <3
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Nice pictures?
thank you!
Nice post. Please do go for the sunrise view at Bagsn. My last post was about that.. Do read it.
Bagan sunrises are absolutely magical! It’s amazing how many temples there are!
Yes, I was completely mesmerised by it.
Beautiful images! Every one of them tells a story!
That means the world to me! Thank you so much!
Nice travel blog#Photography is equally good.
Thank you so much! You’re very kind!
So serene!
It’s a beautiful place!
Cool pictures!
Thank you!
Myanmar really intrigues me and I hope to go there when I’m in South East Asia later this year. This was a great read, love your pics as well!
Thank you! Where will you be in Southeast Asia? You’ll have an amazing time!
Starting off in Thailand, then going to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines and hopefully Indonesia too! ๐
The Road To Mandalay ๐
I have yet to read it! I should probably get on that!
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Wow
Thank you
Watching these pictures, reading your well written story.. I can feel my wanderlust grow. The blood going through my veins I like to call traveler’s blood is reaching its boiling point and I must travel. Happens to be my eyes have as a matter of fact been on Myanmar lately, so who knows, might be I get to lay my eyes upon this beauty.
Wanderlust is a beautiful thing! I hope you get to go sometime soon!
Amazing pics and Great all details that You gave
Thank you very much!
Beautiful photos!
Thank you!
Love the pictures of the temple. How vivid! I recently went to Malaysia, Taiwan, and Singapore, and I loved visiting the beautiful temples, but still, these grand structures are hard to come by! Nice! I hope to go one of these days!
I hope you do too! Where in Singapore did you go? That’s my home!
Ahh! We stayed within a tight area since we only had two days there, really. We explored the different enclaves (we stayed in Little India and traveled to Chinatown), we saw the Singapore Botanical Gardens, walked down Orchard Street to see the lights, saw the fireworks from nearby Marina Bay Sands… but I will have a post of this soon enough! ๐ I’ll shoot you a message when I post it for full detail and pictures, maybe! That city was beautiful, though. One of the most well-planned I’ve EVER seen.
I had no idea there was a white temple in Myanmar! I went to the one in Thailand but this one is going on the list.
It’s a beautiful one! It’s not THE white temple, like the one in Chiang Rai, it was just a random find, but it’s a great visit!
[…] Unexpected Mandalay: A Temple at the Top of theย Hill by Ben Huberman […]
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Lovely pictures.. ๐
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Wanderlust Mind.
That is too sweet! Thank you! Can’t wait to check it out! xx
Wow, such a brilliant article, great pictures too ๐
Why thank you, Robyn!
Amazing blog
Thank you!
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Photography is stunning!!…
Thank you so much!
I envious for your travel and I think, your photos are great!
You can travel too! It just takes the will for adventure! Thank you!
I love your pics ! They are fantastic !
Thank you so much! Cheers!
[…] via unexpected mandalay โ unexpected occurrence […]
What beautiful pictures! I can’t wait to go there with my friend next Summer, whose family is from there.
That will be an absolutely incredible experience! I hope you have an absolutely amazing time!
Nice picz.. ๐ ๐
Thank you!
I always had a desire to visit these places. Thanks to you to clear the description. Thanks for giving me a reason to visit. Thanks a lot
You should definitely check it out! Thank you!
WoW! these are so awesome pics. I really like to see these.
Thank you so much! <3
And you got featured on Discover!!
Haha I was shocked!
Absolutely loved your pictures and congrats on the feature. The place looks amazing through your lens and words. I wish to visit this if I get a chance.
I hope you get the chance to visit! Thank you so much! xx
[…] Source: unexpected mandalay […]
nice
Thanks for taking me on an unexpected journey. The photos are spectacular!
Thank YOU for reading! <3 Cheers on all of the journeys to come!
Thank you thank you! Cheers to all adventures to come!
Love the texture… thanks for sharing
Wow. The pictures are so stunning.
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Get Reblog.
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to check it out! ๐
Am in love with the pics.
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Smile Circulation and commented:
Beautiful photos
Thank you so much! I’ll take a look ๐
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Love this post and your beautiful photos. I must admit, Mandalay was my least favorite spot in Myanmar but your post showed me some of what I must have missed. Did you go to the Buddhist University outside the city? That was an “unexpected” pleasure for me.
Yes I did! It was right next to the teak temple! Gorgeous and so lovely!
I envy your eye: incredible photos!
You’re much too generous with your compliments! Thank you so much!
Good photos! Love the patterns on the walls.
Thank you!
Mandalay is on my list. Thank you for a peek into it. When I read about it in The Glass Palace, a book by one of my favourite authors, Amitav Ghosh, I had to put it on my list.
I’ll have to check that book out! Thanks for reading, I’m so glad you got a little Mandalay wanderlust!
It was my pleasure ๐
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Luv
Reblogged this on JADEN GARLAND.
Awesome pictures!
Thank you!
Amazing architecture and beautiful photos!
Thanks so much!
beautiful photos, grey!!!
Thank you!!!
Beautifully captured…great info…!
Thank you!